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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cagayan Valley through the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) will reopen to the public the Bangan Hill National Park (BHNP) in November, this year.
 
DENR Regional Executive Director and PAMB chairperson Gwendolyn Bambalan underscored the need to promote ecological tourism in Protected Areas (PAs).
 
She said the park reopening is a sustainable development approach for greater economic livelihood opportunities and preservation of natural habitat and resources.
 
“The Board is directing for the improvement of Bangan Hill being a PA show window that features the verdant forest and mountainous landscape of Nueva Vizcaya province,” Director Bambalan said.
 
The BHNP is a protected area located in the municipality of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. It covers an area of 12.777 hectares and was declared a national park by virtue of Republic Act No. 7954 s. 1995.
 
Aside from the majestic scenery overlooking the capital town of Bayombong, the park will also establish a coffee shop serving locally manufactured coffee and native rice cakes. Memorabilia and woodcraft production are also potential livelihood projects the PAMB will be introducing to the BHNP People’s Organization.
 
Earlier in March this year, the DENR inaugurated the rehabilitation and improvement of ecotourism facilities in the said park funded by the Biodiversity Management Bureau. This was timely accomplished during the pandemic.
 
The visitors, however, are reminded to be responsible ecotourists when inside the PAs to preserve the natural environment and biological diversity present within the national parks.
 
In Region 2, there are 14 PAs. Of this number, seven PAs are already open to visitors namely; Dupax Watershed Forest Reserve, Fuyot Spring National Park, Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Quirino Protected Landscape, Tumauini Watershed Natural Park, Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape, and Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes.#